Enameling iron-ware



NITE grams PATENT rarest JACOB J. VOLLRATH, OF SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

ENAMEVLING IRON-WARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,465, dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed April 16, 1881. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB J. VOLLRA'IH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheboygan, in the county of Sheboygau and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Enameliug Iron-Ware; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the art or process of enameling iron and iron and metal articles in general, whereby the enamel coating is made to adhere firmly to the iron and has a beautifully marbleized or variegated surface of any desired color or design.

In carrying my process into practice I proceed as follows, viz: The iron or metal plates or articles to he enameled are subjected to the ordinary pickling, scouring, and washing operations, for the purpose of removing the scale or preparing the surface forthe reception of the enameling compositions.

The art ot enameling metals, as commonly conducted, contemplates the above steps, and also the employment ot'two or more coats of enamel-4o wit, a body coat prepared especially with the view to unite the iron with itself, and a second coat, usually colored with some metallic oxide, which imparts ornament and finish to the article-with often a third coat, especially designed to glaze or impart a polish.

It may be stated that the success and superiority of my process over other enanieling processes heretofore known depends upon the nature of the compositions employed, and in the manner of applying the surface-coating which produces the marbleized or variegated effects.

In all known processes the mar-bled, mottled, or spotted appearance of the enameled surface is caused by the oxidation of the metal surface during the operation of drying the enameling composition thereon.

It has been proposed to make the glaze or enamel ornamental by tinting or coloring the same with any suitable coloring-matter, but no process heretofore known involves the production of a marbleized surfacein a systematic manner without depending on the oxidation of the metal for attaining the desired result.

The foundation or body coating used by me consists of the following ingredients, which are generally combined in the proportions specified, viz sand, thirty-three parts; boraX, twenty-two parts; mica, four parts; and lime, six parts. These materials are melted together in a suitable crucible, and the resultant com position is evenly spread or distributed on thesurface of the article by dipping it into the composition, or by pouring it on the metal surface and spreading it thereon. The body or foundation coating is then permitted to dry, so that it will not crack or craze during the first burning process, which is effected in an ordinary muffle or other furnace at a temperature of about 1,600 Fahrenheit. The burning process ends when the body-coating is properly burned on or intimately combined with the metal. A

second coating or porcelain preparation, in a fused or melted state, is applied to the foundation-coating in the same ma. ner as the first, and is affixed thereto or burned thereon at a temperature of about 1,000 Fahrenheit. This second coating is composed of the following ingredients, viz: feldspar, eight parts; borax, forty parts; soda, thirty parts; cryolite, twenty-five parts; and saltpeter, ten parts. Afinal coating or a composition for producing the marbleized or variegated surface is then applied to the second coating, and is the same as the latter, with the addition of the desired coloring-matter. For producing a blue color potters blue is added, and for a red color fifteen per cent. of oxide of iron and two per cent. of 0 ground is white, with gray spots, and for giving the appearance of red marble a copper-colored red coating, with white spots,is used, and for blue marble blue spots are added.

The marbleizing composition is applied to the vitrified or porcelain surface caused by burning on the second coating, and is firmly affixed thereon by subjecting it to the same temperature as said porcelain surface.

It will be obvious that the proportions of the materials used in the preparation of my compounds may be varied according to the strength or character of said materials, and that other vitritiable or enamel compounds may be used in place of those above described for attaining the desired result-viz.,,the production of metal ware or articles having marbleized or Variegated surfaces of a highly orna mental appearance.

I am aware that it has been proposed to form an enamel of cryolite or its chemical equivalent and silica fused together and usedeither with or without metallic oxides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by-Leters Patent, is-

The process of enameling and marbleizing metal surfaces consisting of the following steps, Viz: applying a vitreous coating to the metal and burning it thereon, then applying a porcelain or enamel composition to the first coating and fixing it by burning, and then applying a tinted enamel composition in a systematic manner, and fixing; it by a final burning operation, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB J. VOLLRATH.

Vitncsses WM. H. SEAMAN, FRANCIS WILLIAMS. 

